Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium


For The Love Of The Game


Hey guys, Gendo here once again, and this time I've set out on a new challenge. A challenge that's maybe not been asked of before, nor has it been tried too often.

Queen's Park, one of the great historical Scottish sides, has remained in amateur status throughout it's entire existence. It's seen teams like Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, everyone in the football league turn professional or semi-pro. but not them. They've seen super stadiums get built and filled to capacity in their homeland, but while Hampden Park is at their disposal, the 52,000 all-seater sees a mere fraction of that in attendance for Queen's Park matches nowadays, compared to what they used to draw. They've seen the rise to prominence of those same Celtic and Rangers side on an international level, amassing multiple top flight and cup championships, all the while Queen's Park have never won a top flight title, and their 10 Scottish Cup champions have all but been forgotten (last won in 1893).

This little historical club has seen time pass it by, as if they are stuck in a bygone area where amateur football is praised and glorified. Where the spirit of the game was played unperturbed of its surroundings. Where athleticism, style, and grace were rewarded with adulation from the fans and teammates, and not with multi-millions pound contracts. Ludere Causa Ludendi - "To play for the sake of playing" To play for the love of the game.

The goal of this experiment is to get Queen's Park and its group of amateur players back into the Scottish Premier League. This will take several seasons, undoubtedly, and it more than likely won't be in successive season either. The pitfalls will be that all these players are not bound to the club by contracts and could be taken at any time. I need to combine skill and sheer luck to will this team into the top flight. Can I do it? Let's find out!

WIN CONDITIONS: Get Queen's Park into the top flight

LOSE / STOPPAGE CONDITIONS: If I get relegated from the current division I am in. Normally in the past this meant the fourth tier was safe. Now, we can get relegated to the Highlands League right away. So in order for this save to continue, I need to keep getting promoted or stay out of relegation, staying in the same division.

Rick87
14 years ago
5 days ago
3,084
Good luck Gendo, One hell of a challenge, nigh on impossible I would say unless you can muster some serious cash to invest in youth facilities and get some high class kids come through.
KEZ_7
17 years ago
1 day ago
1,875
That's one hell of a challenge. Good luck mate
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Those cup games were always going to be hard, good start to life in the league though
Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
Best of luck with this Gendo, it's going to be one hell of a challenge considering their permanent amateur status.
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Thanks for the well wishes, guys. This has been a challenge I've had in my head for some time, but haven't really put into motion until recently.

The cups were never on the cards, Dan. It was just a set of matches that I wanted to see how well we could do, and if the opponents were putting out weakened sides (they weren't).

Episode 2 is live!

Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Episode 3 is live!

Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Keep pushing for that playoff spot mate or even the top spot!
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Playoff spot keeps getting harder and harder with injuries, much less because I'm an all-amateur side, Dan.

Episode 4 is live!

Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Ouch that sucks man! go again next year!
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
It was a complete disaster, Shedender. I didn't expect us to collapse that badly in the second leg.

And that's all I can do, right Dan?

Episode 5 is live!

Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
A good start to the new season beating Berwick Gendo!
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Thanks, Dan. I'm trying to stay afloat this season.

Episode 6 is live!

Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Episode 7 is live!

Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Episode 8 is live!

Johnsey
17 years ago
3 weeks ago
176
Unlucky again, pal!

Hang in there, the tide will turn. I've seen games where Queens have got to the Championship and brought in good players even on amateur contracts!

Enjoying the series, keep it up.
Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
More heartbreak in the play-off's, unlucky chum.
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Wow hard luck there man! next season is your season!!
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Thanks, Johnsey. I've heard stories, and I guess that's what partially led me to start up this experiment.

Unlucky indeed, Shedender, Dan. Need to find some consistency in formation and play to put up more of a challenge for title, and not have to deal with playoffs!

Episode 9 is live!

Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Episode 10 is live!

Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Looking good so far this season man! keep it coming
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
This bunch of guys look to be getting along better with each other and my tactics than seasons past, Dan.

Episode 11 is live!

KEZ_7
17 years ago
1 day ago
1,875
Did you do anything in pre-season to effect that team morale/tactics fluidity Gendo?
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Team talks wise? I try to build the morale up before every match. In the pre-season I set the sight on playoffs, and the team were generally happy with my ambitions, so that could have something to do with it, if only a little.

I need to go and actually check individual stats, but I think the guys I have in now have much better work rate/teamwork than last season. Tactically, I've tweaked a few touchline instructions, and have set the players playing in more natural roles, i.e. the strikers I have are natural advanced forwards, so I play them as such instead of the poacher/false nine role I had before in previous formations. I think that changing up training routines during the season helped a lot, too. With the sheer amount of turnover the past few seasons, the team needed to build up working together and learning the formations, so a balance of team cohesion as well as tactical training has seemingly brought up the familiarity faster than normal.

It's all gone mostly right this season, and promotion looks fairly possible barring injuries to key players *touch wood*
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Episode 12 is live!

Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Well done on promotion mate!
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Cheers, Dan! Now the real fun of the challenge begins.

Episode 13 is live!

Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
Superb start to the League One season, especially winning 4-0 away from home.
Gendo
12 years ago
1 year ago
1,194
Premium
Thanks, Shedender. However, that result seems to be an outlier so far this season.

Episode 14 is live!

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